Dealers run out of Rovers

MG Rover couldn’t sell enough cars to keep itself afloat. But since the company’s collapse its dealers have been overrun with buyers desperate to get a bargain.

Attempts by one MG Rover enthusiast to buy a car from the collapsed manufacturer have stalled altogether after his local dealer sold out of new models in an apparent rush to snap them up after the firm went into administration.

John Davidson, a property consultant from Bulkeley in Cheshire, said it was ‘bizarre’ that he couldn't buy a new Rover despite reports that many dealers had slashed prices to offload stock. Davidson contacted the James Edwards dealership in Chester to ask about buying a Rover 75.

He owns an 11-year-old Rover 200, and despite negative publicity surrounding the company, has always been happy with it.

‘I went to the dealership in Chester but they had sold out of new Rovers completely. He had one or two older Rovers but they were more expensive than new ones and he didn't know if he would be able to get any more.

‘The cars went within days of an announcement that new Rovers would be discounted at some dealerships.’

The Chester dealership refused to comment. Meanwhile, Citizens Advice will to hold a series of public meetings to give information and advice to former workers at the MG Rover factory at Longbridge in Birmingham.

Advisers said they had dealt with hundreds of calls from ex-workers. Citizens Advice Midlands regional manager Sue Wigley said:

‘Since the Rover car plant went into administration CAB advisers have been on hand to offer people independent, confidential information and advice on a wide range of issues.

‘We set up a telephone helpline specifically to deal with people affected by redundancy, and have received hundreds of calls from people anxious to get advice on a range of issues.

‘However, despite a lot of hard work by the Citizens Advice Bureaux and other agencies, we know that we have not been able to offer assistance to all who required it.

‘We have decided to organise four advice and information meetings to ensure that everyone has access to independent advice on the issues they are most worried about.’